Blepharoplasty: What It Means in Korean Surgery

Definition and Korean Terminology

눈꺼풀성형술 (nunkkeopul seonghyeongsul, literally “eyelid shaping surgery”) is the Korean clinical term for blepharoplasty — the surgical modification of one or both eyelids to alter their structure, remove tissue, or reposition fat. The procedure addresses functional concerns (excess skin obstructing vision) as well as aesthetic goals (reducing puffiness, changing lid contour).

In Korea, the term appears less often in clinic marketing than its sub-type names — 쌍꺼풀 수술 (ssangkkeopul susul, double eyelid surgery) and 눈 밑 지방재배치 (nun mit jibang jaebaechi, under-eye fat repositioning) — but surgeons use the clinical label in consultation and operative records. Procedures are legally required to be performed by board-certified surgeons registered with the 대한성형외과학회 (Daehan Seonghyeong Oegwa Haghoe), the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (KSPRS).¹

Types: Upper vs Lower Blepharoplasty

Two anatomically distinct procedures share the blepharoplasty label.

Upper blepharoplasty addresses the upper eyelid. The surgeon removes or redistributes excess skin, muscle, or fat that accumulates with age or is present structurally from birth. In Korean practice, upper blepharoplasty frequently incorporates double eyelid creation — forming or deepening the supratarsal crease (the horizontal fold above the eye) — making a combined procedure common rather than exceptional.

Lower blepharoplasty addresses the lower eyelid and the area immediately beneath it. Two approaches are used:

• Transconjunctival (incision inside the eyelid): the preferred approach in Korea when the goal is fat repositioning or removal without significant skin laxity. No external scar results.
• External subciliary (incision below the lash line): used when loose lower-lid skin requires direct excision. A fine scar remains but typically becomes inconspicuous within 6–12 months.

Both upper and lower blepharoplasty may be performed independently or together, and either can be combined with ptosis correction when muscle weakness is also present.

Difference from Double Eyelid Surgery

Double eyelid surgery — 쌍꺼풀 수술 (ssangkkeopul susul) — creates or enhances the supratarsal crease, the fold that divides the upper eyelid into two visible planes. It is one specific outcome achievable through upper blepharoplasty, not a separate anatomical category of surgery.

The distinction matters for two reasons. First, not every upper blepharoplasty creates a double eyelid: a surgeon may remove skin or fat from the upper lid without altering the crease. Second, double eyelid surgery can be performed with minimal tissue removal (non-incisional or partial-incision techniques) in younger patients who have no excess skin — these cases involve no blepharoplasty-style excision at all.

Korean clinic websites and international search queries frequently treat the terms as synonyms. In a clinical consultation, specifying which outcome you want — crease creation, skin removal, or both — ensures the surgeon proposes the technically correct approach.

Used in Context

When a Korean clinic lists “blepharoplasty” in English, it most commonly means upper blepharoplasty with incisional double eyelid creation, though the scope varies. Lower blepharoplasty is usually listed separately as under-eye fat repositioning or tear-trough correction. If a quote or procedure list is ambiguous, confirm in writing whether the plan includes skin excision, fat repositioning, crease formation, or ptosis repair — each adds operative time and affects recovery.